What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 4

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Where to now for the Western Bulldogs after disappointing loss to Geelong?​

When the going got tough, the Western Bulldogs fell away against Geelong. It sums up the club’s season that has been two steps forward and one step back.

Chris Cavanagh
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8 min read
July 31, 2022 - 11:29AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/.../e485e906420eea774a5b3ffff73af999#share-tools

Two steps forward, one step back.
The Western Bulldogs were the buzz team last week after knocking off reigning premier Melbourne.
That result had the football world fearing another late charge towards September from a side that has made the big dance from the lower rungs of the top-eight before.
But a little bit of the gloss came off the Bulldogs on Saturday night, with ladder-leader Geelong making Luke Beveridge’s side look more like pretenders than contenders.
Generally speaking, a 28-point loss to Geelong at GMHBA Stadium could be considered a brave effort.
The Cats are hard to beat on their home turf – even more so when their fearless captain Joel Selwood is celebrating a major milestone.
The Bulldogs started as well as Beveridge could have asked for, kicking the first four goals of the game to take the crowd out of the equation.
However, there were some worrying signs for the Bulldogs over the next two-and-a-half quarters.


The Western Bulldogs let a chance slip against the Cats. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Western Bulldogs let a chance slip against the Cats. Picture: Mark Stewart
Between the 19-minute-mark of the first quarter and the 14-minute-mark of the last quarter, the visitors kicked only two goals.
Geelong piled on 13 majors during the same period.
When the going got tough, the Bulldogs fell away.
Beveridge described the third quarter as a “power play” by the ladder-leaders, who flexed their collective muscle to kick 8.2 (50) to 0.3 (3) in a scintillating 30 minutes of football.
The Cats lifted their physicality and intensity around the ball and the Bulldogs’ much-heralded midfield were left in the dust.
Geelong won the contested possession count for the term 35-28, had the upper hand in clearances 12-7 and dominated inside-50s 18-8.
Time and again, the Cats’ midfielders waltzed out of centre bounces and put the ball down the throat of their forwards who - alarmingly for the Bulldogs - converted goals from 44 per cent of their side’s entries for the quarter.
That ease of exits from the middle was helped by a Bulldogs’ pressure rating of 156 during the third quarter – well below the AFL average of 180.
And when the Bulldogs were able to win the ball back, they often coughed it up.
Luke Beveridge was frustrated with his side’s performance. Picture: Getty Images

Luke Beveridge was frustrated with his side’s performance. Picture: Getty Images
Geelong outscored them by 32 points for the night when it came to scores from turnovers.
It was not the first time the Bulldogs have struggled to halt an opposition side’s momentum, as Beveridge pointed out.
Lapses within games have been a common theme this year and are the reason why a side which made the Grand Final in 2021 holds a 10-9 record this season.
“We’ve beaten Melbourne last week and I think tonight was probably one of our best opportunities to beat Geelong at Geelong – and that’s the shame of it,” Beveridge said.
“Ultimately, they showed how good a team they are and our guys were on top of things for a little while and then got taught a lesson in powerful, contested footy for a period of the game where our energy came off. The game leaves clues as to what you need and what we’ve needed over the year is consistency over four quarters, which we haven’t been able to establish for long enough.”
The problem for the Bulldogs is there is not much time left to learn those lessons.
As it stands, they are a game outside the top-eight with three games to go against Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn.
At a minimum, two more wins will be needed to secure another September berth.
“We’ll pick ourselves up and we’ll still feel positive about our opportunity against Fremantle this week and we’ll go to work on trying to win our 11th game and see where that places us,” Beveridge said.
The Bulldogs were under constant pressure on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Bulldogs were under constant pressure on Saturday night. Picture: Mark Stewart
SLUGGISH CATS FLICK SWITCH AS DOGS TRY TO CRASH SELWOOD PARTY
It was billed as reigning Cats and underdogs — and eventuated accordingly.
But for just over a half at GMHBA Stadium, it looked anything but.
Geelong had been given an old-fashioned lesson in the first quarter, at one stage trailing by 26 points as the Western Bulldogs played exemplary footy to torch the flag favourites.
An arm wrestle ensued in the second term as Patrick Dangerfield lifted the Cats into the contest, but only as far as four goals six behinds, the team’s lowest halftime score of the season.
But from nowhere, the Cats then piled on eight goals two in the third term — their best quarter of the year numerically — while keeping the visitors goal-less.
Game over.
Joel Selwood escapes a [PLAYERCARD]Caleb Daniel[/PLAYERCARD] tackle to get his handball away in his 350th game. Picture: Mark Stewart

Joel Selwood escapes a Caleb Daniel tackle to get his handball away in his 350th game. Picture: Mark Stewart
The party for skipper Joel Selwood’s 350th milestone could proceed as planned with blushes spared as the Dogs’ inability to go four full quarters with the top teams haunted them again as they ceded their berth in the top eight with a 28-point loss.
The turning point that will be surely become a talking point came in the opening minutes of the third term when Tyson Stengle ultimately goaled from a relayed free-kick.
Jeremy Cameron’s kick seconds earlier had gone straight to Tim English, but he had to cede possession to Stengle because the umpire had ruled Cameron was bumped illegally by Josh Bruce after disposing of the ball.
Replays showed the call to be soft at best and awful at worst, but regardless of your vantage point, the tide turned inexorably after that moment.
Minutes later, Tom Hawkins became just the 13th player in league history to kick at least 50 goals in eight separate seasons and the momentum had turned.
[PLAYERCARD]Marcus Bontempelli[/PLAYERCARD] appeared to labour with his movement. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Marcus Bontempelli appeared to labour with his movement. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images
Selwood didn’t have everything his own way with some tight marking in his milestone game.

Selwood didn’t have everything his own way with some tight marking in his milestone game.
And Dogs fans had scarcely discussed their bad luck when Hawkins (again), Cam Guthrie and Brad Close had each goaled to not only grab the lead, but ultimately set up a winning break.
The Cats dominated the middle of the ground, with brothers Cam and Zach Guthrie electric and running their midfield opponents — perhaps with the exception of Ed Richards — off the park.
The eight goals came from 18 inside-50 entries, yet the ailing Bullies could only lay eight tackles for the term to show their drop-off in pressure.
There was a 50-minute gap between the Dogs’ sixth and seventh goals and only a spectacular mark and goal from Josh Dunkley in the dying minutes that gave travelling fans anything to cheer about after what had been such a bright opening.
Earlier, the Dogs opened at fever-pitch intensity, dominating the midfield and shutting down all Geelong exit avenues from defence with Bailey Dale sensational.
The possession count was 40-12 in the opening eight minutes to the visitors, who looked crisp and were sufficiently disciplined not to kick it into the normal Cat half-back traps, most notably away from the returning Tom Stewart.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, fresh from his breakout five-goal blast in Round 19, booted the first of four in succession — and it was only 10 inspired minutes from Dangerfield that brought Geelong into the match.
I’M A JOEL MAN
If there was meant to be some milestone love for Joel Selwood, somebody forgot to send the script to the Bulldogs.
Selwood, in his 350th game, earnt the never-enviable task of some close attention from Tom Liberatore in the first term, then couldn’t find a touch in the first 15 minutes.
The Cats’ longest-serving skipper finally got a kick, but it sailed out on the full under intense pressure.
It would have been a disappointing outcome for Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge after beating the Demons the previous week. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

It would have been a disappointing outcome for Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge after beating the Demons the previous week. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
LOST IN SPACE
A potentially hall of fame entry into the “how did we butcher that?” files when Tom Hawkins ultimately turned into a point what for 20 seconds appeared a certain Geelong goal in the second quarter.
The Kardinia Park faithful screamed throughout as the Cats dutifully used a series of overlaps from half-back before Tyson Stengle centred to Patrick Dangerfield 25m out from goal.
In trying to do the “team thing”, Dangerfield lobbed a handball over the closing full-back, only to have the ball bounce and push Hawkins out of the corridor, from where he gathered cleanly, but then sprayed a left-footed dribble kick wide.
IF YOU DON’T MIND
As the Cats’ intensity rose in the second term to claw back into the contest, the crowd certainly found its voice, much of it predictably directed at the men in yellow.
A high-pressure scramble across half-back for the Dogs eventually resulted in a scrambled kick that was marked near the point of the centre square by Marcus Bontempelli, who duly relieved the pressure.
But that kick came under a hail of boos from Cat fans whose angst at the umpires was sent to boiling point when Jed Bews was accidentally shepherded from that contest by the controlling umpire backing out of the contest.

SCOREBOARD

GEELONG 1.2 4.6 12.8 14.10 (94)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.3 6.5 6.8 9.12 (66)
BEST
Geelong:
Dangerfield, C.Guthrie, De Koning, Z.Guthrie, Smith, Close.
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Dale, Liberatore, Dunkley.
GOALS
Geelong:
Hawkins (2), C.Guthrie (2), Rohan (2), Stengle (2), Cameron (2), Dangerfield, Smith, Miers, Close.
Western Bulldogs: Weightman (3), Dunkley (2), Ugle-Hagan (2), Johannisen, English.
INJURIES
Geelong:
Rohan (concussion).
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli (upper leg).
CROWD
22,106
VENUE
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
VOTES
3: Dangerfield (GEE)
2: C.Guthrie (GEE)
1: Richards (WB)
The Bulldogs let slip a magnificent start as the Cats launched a second-half goal blitz to reel in the visitors. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Bulldogs let slip a magnificent start as the Cats launched a second-half goal blitz to reel in the visitors. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Scott lauds Danger’s return to best

Geelong coach Chris Scott had his belief that the Bulldogs are a hidden threat confirmed at GMHBA Stadium.
He hopes his players will emerge from the challenge better steeled for September pressure.
Scott said the tenacious Dogs were sensational in establishing a 26-point lead early, but was delighted his charges could reverse the trend as the match wore on, eventually easing down for a 28-point victory.
“The opposition was really good early and we expected it. If all you did was look through their names, you’d be intimidated and expect them to be a real handful and that’s what played out early,” Scott said.
“I thought we were a little fumbly early and didn’t handle their pressure very well and … we’d only had four (forward-50) entries late in the first quarter.
“But we’ve been tested over the last month or so … and for the most part we should have faith in our system.
“It must be confidence building for the players that when the game’s going against us, we’ve got the capacity to change it.”
Scott was delighted in champion midfielder Patrick Dangerfield’s return to his best, with a hard-nosed and game-turning 26 touches, including a critical goal.
“He was super in there against some great players,” Scott said.
“He just looked powerful and he did change that game in the third quarter in particular.”
Scott said forward Gary Rohan did not appear to suffer any serious damage from a head knock he received in the third term — a blow which eventually forced him from the ground and paved the path to play for medisub Brandan Parfitt to enter the game in the final term.
Parfitt was lively when he came on, but could still play in Geelong’s VFL game on Sunday.
But Scott said he would be spared that run, instead doing some running work after the match to regain his conditioning.
Patrick Dangerfield had a night out with 26 touches in a welcome return to form.

Patrick Dangerfield had a night out with 26 touches in a welcome return to form.

Extreme lengths to dry soaked stadium ahead of Joel’s 350th

Geelong has brought in a helicopter to help dry the GMHBA stadium turf ahead of tonight’s blockbuster clash against Western Bulldogs.
The helicopter arrived shortly after 10am and hovered low over the grass to help dry-out a section of soaked ground on the north-western side of the ground.
New turf has also been laid to help combat some wear and tear from recent events at the ground including a Foo Fighter’s concert.
The Kardinia Park Stadium Trust has tried to proactively manage the issue amid a particularly cold and wet winter to help keep the turf in the best possible condition.
Dry and sunny conditions are forecast today.
The Cats have also used their second oval at Deakin University for training across multiple football programs including their AFLW team.

While there was some concern about the ground earlier in the week, it will host tonight’s Geelong - Bulldogs match as the Bulldogs attempt to keep touch with the eight.
Geelong will tonight honour inspirational captain Joel Selwood in his 350th match.
 

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AFL 2022: Western Bulldogs pay tribute to Whitten Oval on 25-year anniversary of last AFL game played there​

This weekend marks 25 years since an AFL game was played at Whitten Oval. Bulldogs greats reflect on the good – and bad – of the past, and where the club is at now.

Nick Smart
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August 1, 2022 - 6:00PM


It was to be the final AFL game played at the Whitten Oval, and Brownlow Medallist Tony Liberatore said you could have put your house on the Western Bulldogs that day.

It was Round 21, 1997, and the Western Bulldogs’ clash with West Coast would be the last match played for premiership points at a venue that had hosted 642 Footscray matches in the club’s history.

“I remember it was a sunny morning and it then clouded over, and the crowd was incredible with probably about 30,000 there,” Liberatore said.

“We were all pretty worked up, and no other side was going to beat us that day.

“It was quite an emotional day and for the supporters especially…it was a great memory.”

The Bulldogs will wear a retro-style “Robodog” jumper design against Fremantle at Marvel Stadium this Saturday to mark 25 years since the last AFL game at the oval.


Former Western Bulldogs players Luke Darcy, [PLAYERCARD]Tony Liberatore[/PLAYERCARD], [PLAYERCARD]Brad Johnson[/PLAYERCARD] and Matthew Croft pose for a photo with current players Tom Liberatore and [PLAYERCARD]Cody Weightman[/PLAYERCARD]. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Former Western Bulldogs players Luke Darcy, Tony Liberatore, Brad Johnson and Matthew Croft pose for a photo with current players Tom Liberatore and Cody Weightman. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

It was a historic occasion, but not all were misty eyed that day.
Sitting in a cramped Channel 7 commentary box in the EJ Whitten Stand – which is currently being torn down – was former Hawthorn star Don Scott.

In his typically blunt manner, Scott said good riddance to a place he despised.
“This brings back memories, shocking memories of playing out here,” Scott said at the time.
“It’s a typical Footscray day; the wind will be blowing down the ground, you’ve got the short wings, the dressing rooms are small, they’re dirty, the showers are cold.
“There’s nothing worse than coming to Footscray.”
It was music to the ears of Bulldogs supporters and to Liberatore, who applied the screws to a young Ben Cousins that day.
“I just played him pretty tight and worked him over a bit,” he said.
“As I said, no other side would have beaten us that day.”

Western Bulldogs v West Coast – the last AFL game played at Whitten Oval on August 23, 1997.

Western Bulldogs v West Coast – the last AFL game played at Whitten Oval on August 23, 1997.

What made Whitten Oval so miserable for opposition sides, according to Liberatore, were the elements.
“The wind was the big thing,” he said.
The ground was also generally muddy when I first played there, and in that last game Mick Malthouse was the coach of West Coast and he was the coach of the Bulldogs in 1989 before leaving.
“He was another person we wanted to sort of stick it up so to speak, as EJ (Whitten) would say.”
As Liberatore walked across the ground on Monday with son Tom and former teammates Luke Darcy, Brad Johnson and Matthew Croft, the famed EJ Whitten stand was demolished as part of the redevelopment.

[PLAYERCARD]Tony Liberatore[/PLAYERCARD] attempts to tackle Eagle Ben Cousins in Round 21, 1997.

Tony Liberatore attempts to tackle Eagle Ben Cousins in Round 21, 1997.
Tony, right, with son Tom on Monday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Tony, right, with son Tom on Monday. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

He said it was hard to believe this was the same club that once used to have to rattle tins to survive in the late 1980s and 1990s.
“It’s amazing because we weren’t a rich club, we were quite a poor club,” Liberatore said.
“Even that 1997 season we didn’t train at the ground because it was getting redone or something, so we were training at RAAF bases in Laverton, we had no sponsors, we had to sort of wait for match payments and hold off for six months to get paid because the club couldn’t make ends meet.
“To see how it’s developed and grown, and even getting bigger, is fantastic.”
 
Club does some dumb s**t.

Sure pull it down that’s fine but posting this photo is stupid.

They should have taken off the stand names first, or at least not show the names in ruins. Looks very disrespectful.

You are absolutely right DUMB shit. You should read the facebook posts in regards to this photo. People from other clubs saying it's so sad too.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the redevelopment, but geez. It's not a good look.

Why couldn't they sell some of this stuff? Raffle or auction? Someone on facebook said their English soccer team had recently moved home grounds and they took a whole lot of bits & pieces off & sold them.

I just shakes me head.
 
One of my favourite pics of my late parents taken in May 1979 from the top of the Whitten Stand at our game against South Melbourne. We sat in my usual spot. Mum was amazed at how the women could sit and yell as they knitted. Dad didn't understand the umpiring! lol

ejwstand.jpg
 

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Club does some dumb s**t.

Sure pull it down that’s fine but posting this photo is stupid.

They should have taken off the stand names first, or at least not show the names in ruins. Looks very disrespectful.

You are absolutely right DUMB s**t. You should read the facebook posts in regards to this photo. People from other clubs saying it's so sad too.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the redevelopment, but geez. It's not a good look.

Why couldn't they sell some of this stuff? Raffle or auction? Someone on facebook said their English soccer team had recently moved home grounds and they took a whole lot of bits & pieces off & sold them.

I just shakes me head.

Although I agree that not taking down the signs is in poor taste, those particular signs (Hopkins, Ware, Olliver, Sutton, Schults) aren't original and are less than 10 years old. The original ones can be seen in the photo below and I'm not sure if they have been kept by the club. However, the EJ Whitten Stand letters have been retained and will be installed in the new stand.

E.J._Whitten_Stand.jpg

I think many are forgetting why we are having this Retro Round in the first place. It's recognising 25 years since the last V/AFL game as well as a nod to the future in which the Whitten Oval is an elite facility for both our men's and women's programs as well as one of two primary AFLW venues for the inner city along with Princes Park. Hence why the photo op in front of the demolition.

As for why nothing has been auctioned off, this was addressed in another thread but the club initially wanted to do this but was later advised against it due to the amount of asbestos inside the stand. However, there were plans for people/families with seat names/plates to be able to get them if they wanted but I'm not sure if this went through.
 
One of my favourite pics of my late parents taken in May 1979 from the top of the Whitten Stand at our game against South Melbourne. We sat in my usual spot. Mum was amazed at how the women could sit and yell as they knitted. Dad didn't understand the umpiring! lol

View attachment 1463324

Your dad was ahead of his time....we still don't understand the umpiring!
 
Although I agree that not taking down the signs is in poor taste, those particular signs (Hopkins, Ware, Olliver, Sutton, Schults) aren't original and are less than 10 years old. The original ones can be seen in the photo below and I'm not sure if they have been kept by the club. However, the EJ Whitten Stand letters have been retained and will be installed in the new stand.

View attachment 1463427

I think many are forgetting why we are having this Retro Round in the first place. It's recognising 25 years since the last V/AFL game as well as a nod to the future in which the Whitten Oval is an elite facility for both our men's and women's programs as well as one of two primary AFLW venues for the inner city along with Princes Park. Hence why the photo op in front of the demolition.

As for why nothing has been auctioned off, this was addressed in another thread but the club initially wanted to do this but was later advised against it due to the amount of asbestos inside the stand. However, there were plans for people/families with seat names/plates to be able to get them if they wanted but I'm not sure if this went through.

Regardless of whether these signs are old or not, showing it was dumb PR wise - looks disrespectful and people aren't aware the signs were not antiques.
 
One of my favourite pics of my late parents taken in May 1979 from the top of the Whitten Stand at our game against South Melbourne. We sat in my usual spot. Mum was amazed at how the women could sit and yell as they knitted. Dad didn't understand the umpiring! lol

View attachment 1463324
Great pic, Chicago!
They look like rusted-on supporters, don't they? Did you tell them they needed to yell, "BAAALLLL!", every few minutes? 😁

I was there that day helping a photographer mate who was taking shots of the game, so I got to go in to the rooms before the game, at half time and afterwards. Even had a bit to eat and a couple of drinks with the teams.
Yep, the South players came back to the home rooms for a catch up and a bit of hospitality.
That was the norm back then.

Boy, I miss those days...

BTW, many of the photos "we" took hung in various places in the rooms for many years!
 
Not sure whether anyone else watched the First Crack on Fox Footy on Sunday. I watched the replay last night and I think the guys on there are spot on in their analysis of the Bulldogs and that our issues in defence are system and structure/strategy related, in addition to needing another lockdown and intercepting key defenders.

They spoke again about our strategy of backing off the mark all over the ground and what that does in terms of allowing easier ball movement from the opposition. The fact that we push up to far and allow the opposition to easily get through with precision kicks while we are guarding space with no thought for our man.

There are examples of this each and every week. We are getting beaten through coaching and strategy. I don’t know whether it’s the assistant’s or whether it’s Bevo, but we have not adjusted well to rule changes around the standing on the mark interpretation and we don’t seem to have any defensive structure and when we also don’t have strong one on one defenders, the result is that when momentum swings against us and we aren’t winning the midfield battle, we get opened up really easily. In terms of individuals I think Gards is trying but he is struggling and is not a great decision maker, he punches the ball with no care for where the ball is going and it often just goes straight to the opposition. Keath has had a shocker of a year and Cordy struggles one on one. Ed Richards has been fantastic, Bailey Dale good at times but also can get exposed as he is sometimes too attacking minded, Caleb hasn’t been great, we have missed Doc.

But more than anything I think it’s our defensive structure, thinking, strategy that is a problem. This won’t be fixed this season and will need a lot of work and probably some coaching group changes at the end of the year. It’s disappointing that we seem to have a good list now (with a few holes for sure that need to be addressed) but are being let down by coaching and strategy. I really hope they change this strategy of backing off the mark anywhere outside our own fwd 50. It sets us on a path of constantly retreating and not applying pressure. It’s terrible strategy and affects the mindset of the team if you ask me. Man the mark and force the player with the ball to go back with the ball first before he can move it forwards. I know he can run around but the first thing will be on most occasions to go back before kicking. It will slow the opposition ball movement and give our defenders at least a little bit of time, and it will also mean we have an intent to pressure the ball, not retreat and give up space.

I’m no AFL expert, just followed it for 45 years and played a little bit when I was a youngster, but why can I see this and other experts finally point it out and yet our coaches, paid money to do this as a job, cannot see it and what it’s doing to us. We need to employ a proper defensive assistant coach who understands how the best teams do it and can change what we do. Collingwood have obviously made changes to what they do with new coaches, others have as well. We need to get up there with the best otherwise we will never win anything in the Finals.
 
Although I agree that not taking down the signs is in poor taste, those particular signs (Hopkins, Ware, Olliver, Sutton, Schults) aren't original and are less than 10 years old. The original ones can be seen in the photo below and I'm not sure if they have been kept by the club. However, the EJ Whitten Stand letters have been retained and will be installed in the new stand.

View attachment 1463427

I think many are forgetting why we are having this Retro Round in the first place. It's recognising 25 years since the last V/AFL game as well as a nod to the future in which the Whitten Oval is an elite facility for both our men's and women's programs as well as one of two primary AFLW venues for the inner city along with Princes Park. Hence why the photo op in front of the demolition.

As for why nothing has been auctioned off, this was addressed in another thread but the club initially wanted to do this but was later advised against it due to the amount of asbestos inside the stand. However, there were plans for people/families with seat names/plates to be able to get them if they wanted but I'm not sure if this went through.
Agree, the EJ Whitten letters are beautiful and well worth saving so I'm glad they are being retained.
Those other signs up on the cross beams are cheap and crappy - they would have been designed by the work experience kid at the local sign-a-rama franchise. Shit font and absolutely nothing nostalgic about them.
 
Retro round - here's some retro clips:





That's a bit spooky...guess who's playing at Hotel Westwood in Footscray this Sat night?

1659428403442.png

Shame the footy's on at the same time or I might have gone...
 

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What They're Saying - The Bulldogs Media Thread - Part 4

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